Thursday, October 7, 2010

Here come some NL Division series predictions. Yes they’re a day late, and after a Roy Halladay no-hitter, but maybe I would have predicted a no-no … probably not though.

Philadelphia (1-0) vs. Cincinnati (0-1)

OK, so as stated Halladay made an impressive playoff debut by throwing the first no-hitter in the playoff since Don Larsen’s perfect game in the 1956 World Series.

A five-game series favors the team with the best pitching, and the Phillies have it. Roy Oswalt will take the hill Friday and Cole Hamels is up Sunday. That’s a tough first three games for Joey Votto and the Cincinnati Reds.

Bronson Arroyo has the tall task of taking the mound for the Reds in an attempt to pitch his team back into this series. Arroyo has playoff experience, but so does the heart of Philadelphia’s lineup.

The combination of big playmakers up and down the lineup and the impressive starting rotation should end this series quickly in favor of Philadelphia.

Phillies in three

Atlanta (0-0) vs. San Francisco (0-0)

The Braves were the best team at home this season. However, as the Wild Card winner, they will have to play two games at San Francisco to start the series.

The Giants boast a strong group of pitching led by Tim Lincecum. Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez and Madison Baumgarner will join Lincecum in taking on the Braves.

Atlanta will send Derek Lowe to the mound in Game 1 followed by Tommy Hanson and Tim Hudson. The Braves are a slightly better hitting team, holding a .258 team batting average. The Giants batted .257.

This should be a tight series all the way through. If the Braves can take one of three in San Francisco, they could take control of the series.